Can Online Reading Tutoring Work for Kids with ADHD? Oisin's Success Story

How one third grader progressed four reading levels in just three months with personalized online reading instruction.

If your child has ADHD and struggles with reading, you might wonder whether online reading tutoring for kids with ADHD could really work.

Will they be able to focus? Will they stay engaged? Can a reading tutor really provide the individualized support they need through a computer screen?

These are questions I hear from parents who are exploring online reading tutoring.

And while every child is different, I'd love to share the story of one of my students, Oisin.

Oisin is a curious, energetic third grader who loves LEGO, Minecraft, Star Wars, dinosaurs, and animals.

When we started working together in July 2026, he disliked reading and frequently guessed at unfamiliar words.

Just three months later, he had progressed from Level C to Level G, moving from kindergarten-level reading material into first-grade books.

And we accomplished that with just two 30-minute online tutoring sessions each week.

When Reading Feels Too Difficult

When I first met Oisin, he didn't enjoy reading.

His mom shared that she read aloud to him every day, and he loved listening to stories. But when it was his turn to read, he would do just about anything to avoid it.

During his initial assessment, I discovered that Oisin was reading at an instructional kindergarten level, even though he was in third grade.

He recognized nearly all his letters and sounds, but he struggled with some foundational reading skills.

He could identify rhyming words with 70% accuracy but could produce rhymes with only 40% accuracy. He also had difficulty breaking words into their individual sounds.

First-grade reading passages were overwhelming for him.

But I noticed something else almost immediately.

Oisin was an incredibly quick learner. He just needed instruction that addressed the skills he was missing and moved at a pace that worked for him.

Why Personalized Online Reading Tutoring for Kids with ADHD Made a Difference

I began teaching Oisin using systematic phonics instruction based on UFLI Foundations.

We worked on phonics patterns, syllable types, sight words, spelling, and decoding unfamiliar words.

But instead of following every activity in the program at a fixed pace, I adapted our lessons to match how quickly he learned.

Oisin thrives when we move quickly.

During a typical 30-minute session, we review previously learned sounds, complete a blending drill, introduce a new phonics concept, practice reading and spelling words with that pattern, review sight words, and apply everything through sentences and passages.

Sometimes we even have enough time to read an entire book on Kids A-Z and complete a comprehension quiz.

The beauty of individualized instruction is that I can continuously adjust based on what Oisin understands and what he needs next.

Making Reading Fun with LEGO and Dinosaurs

Oisin loves LEGO, Minecraft, Star Wars, dinosaurs, and animals.

So whenever possible, I incorporate those interests into our reading activities.

I'll create decodable stories with LEGO-style characters or themes that I know he enjoys.

The reading instruction remains purposeful, but now the practice involves something he's genuinely excited about.

As his decoding improved, we began reading more books on Kids A-Z.

For Oisin, having reading materials that connect with his interests has been an important part of keeping him engaged.

Four Reading Levels of Growth in Three Months

When we started in July, Oisin was reading at Level C.

By October, he was reading at Level G.

That's four reading levels of growth in approximately three months!

And remember, we meet for just two 30-minute sessions each week.

Over three months, that represents approximately 12–13 scheduled hours of individualized instruction, assuming consistent attendance.

But his reading level isn't the only thing that's changed.

His confidence has grown tremendously.

When he encounters an unfamiliar word, he's increasingly willing to apply the phonics strategies we've practiced.

Sometimes I just need to remind him, "Remember what we use that E for? What's its job?"

He thinks about it, applies what he's learned, and corrects the word.

His mom recently shared this message with me:

"He’s improved so much and is gaining so much confidence. ❤️"

That's the kind of progress I love to see.

Reading Comprehension Is Growing, Too

As Oisin's decoding improves, we're also strengthening his reading comprehension.

He's frequently earning perfect scores of 5 out of 5 on his Kids A-Z comprehension quizzes.

He's especially successful when questions ask about information directly stated in the text.

We're continuing to work on more complex comprehension skills, such as making inferences, drawing conclusions, comparing and contrasting, understanding vocabulary, and identifying an author's purpose.

These are skills that often need to be explicitly taught.

And because our instruction is individualized, I can address them as soon as I identify a need.

Can Children with ADHD Be Successful with Online Reading Tutoring?

One concern I hear from parents is whether their child with ADHD will be able to stay focused and engaged during online tutoring.

It's a reasonable question.

But having ADHD doesn't automatically mean that a child can't learn successfully online.

Oisin, who has both ADHD and autism, is one example of a student who has responded extremely well to individualized online reading instruction.

He has a wonderful amount of curiosity and energy, and he learns new concepts quickly.

Rather than expecting him to fit into a rigid lesson format, I adapt my instruction to work with his learning pace.

We move quickly when he's ready, review when necessary, and connect our reading activities with topics he enjoys.

And he responds beautifully.

Even when he makes mistakes, he maintains a positive attitude, accepts feedback, and applies what he's learning.

The key isn't assuming that online tutoring will or won't work because a child has ADHD. It's finding out what type of instruction, pace, and support helps that individual child learn best.

Every child is different, and not every child will make the same progress as Oisin. But his story is a great reminder that online reading instruction can be a successful option for children with different learning needs.

What's Next for Oisin?

Oisin is now reading first-grade-level books, and we're continuing to strengthen his phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.

Our next goal is to move toward second-grade reading material.

Based on the progress he's made so far, I'm excited about what he may accomplish over the coming months.

But what I love most is his willingness to learn.

Reading used to be something he avoided.

Now, during our tutoring sessions, he's excited to tackle books, try new skills, and apply what he's learned.

And that's a wonderful change.

Could Online Reading Tutoring Be Right for Your Child?

If your child struggles with reading, guesses at unfamiliar words, or avoids picking up books, there may be specific skills that are making reading more difficult than it needs to be.

The first step is discovering exactly where those difficulties are.

I offer a FREE Reading Assessment to help identify your child's reading strengths, uncover areas that need additional instruction, and determine whether personalized online reading tutoring could be a good fit.

Whether your child has ADHD, struggles with phonics, or simply needs a different approach to reading instruction, I'd love to help you find out what they need.

Schedule Your FREE Reading Assessment

Let's help your child become a more confident reader.

This case study describes one student's individual experience. Every child learns differently, and results will vary.